Menopause (peri) stressing you?

Menopause (peri) stressing you?

“ My internal thermostat is on the blink. A prickly sensation of heat begins from my heart centre and sometimes the back of my neck. Oh no – it is another flush and “glow”. What’s happening to me? I am either hot or anxious. What can I do?” Does this sound familiar?

The peri-menopause is the period before the onset of the menopause. This period can last for up to 10 years and is often marked by various physical signs. Whilst the list below is not definitive I hear about these the most in clinic.

Hot flashes – anytime/all the time/sometimes/especially at night. 75% of (peri) menopause women suffer with this symptom. The hypothalamus senses and controls body temperature. As oestrogen levels fall the hypothalamus reacts and causes a response designed to cool the body down.

Anxiety/irritability/depression/inability to make a decision

Unable to cope with stress

Dental and gum decay and inflammation

Weight gain – especially around the middle

Vaginal dryness and/or painful sex

Low libido/reduced libido/where has my libido gone?

Confidence crisis

Insomnia and sleep disturbances

Overwhelming fatigue

Bladder infections/urinary incontinence and urgency

Needing a pee in the middle of the night

Womb prolapse

Random mood swings

Reduced strength/painful or stiff joints/back pain and osteoporosis

Poor memory/concentration and lack of focus

Itching/dry/thinning or tingling skin

Breast engorgement/ cysts/enlargement/reduction or pain

Dizziness/migraines and regular headaches

Heart palpitation/high blood pressure

Menstrual changes/shorter/longer/heavier/less/irregular/random/not at all

The average age for the “menopause” in the UK is 52. The definition of the menopause is “the ceasing of menstruation”.

The NHS class “post menopause” as 2 years without mensturation if over 50 and 3 years without menstruation if under 50 years old.

Does it feel as if an alien has invaded your body?

Is it taking control of both mind and body with hormonal surges and plunges? Do you feel as if Western society has placed you in “dusty bin”? Your worthwhile and amazing life experiences which have defined you and provided wisdom and knowledge presently seem to be ignored. Why are you obsessing about your ageing and vitality? Where is this weight gain coming from? Are you embracing major life changes – aren’t the children off to university? Or are you experiencing redundancy, divorce or break up, house move or caring for your parents? This period of your life can bring with it a strong complex mix. Whilst some women take everything in their stride others become super sensitive, needy, anxious and unable to cope with the pressure that it brings. How are you dealing with it?

Don’t worry – this is an amazing time of your life. You are becoming a Wise Teenager!

So, what’s happening?

Hormones, hormones, hormones! As the endocrine system re-boots a period of surges and drops in hormones occur. These imbalances can tip your emotions and physical body. The three intercommunicating regions of the body (HPA axis) that’s the hypothalamus in the brain, the pituitary gland and the adrenals all respond and release the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol to cope with the perceived “internal or environmental stress” . This rush of cortisol can make you wound up and anxious. It’s a vicious cycle the more wound up you become, the more cortisol is released, and so on. This is where I can help!

Be honest with yourself. Are you allowing menopause symptoms to take you over?

My role is to support hormone health conditions – I often blog about hormone dis-harmony and the menopause. Let me show you how to embrace this amazing time of your life. Here are links to some of my articles

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing meditation techniques, on line courses and naturopathic self-help tools to support some of the main symptoms. In June I will be running a Summer Juice cleanse and September an on line Menopause support course – more information available soon

Justine Evans ND is a Hormone Alchemist and the founder of Creation Fertility. In tune with the Seasons and cycles she combines functional medicine with Eastern philosophy to provide a multi dimensional approach to hormone and fertility health. Call 07747 133170 to speak with her

Follow Us

Contact Us

Testimonials

I wanted to thank you for the Spring hormone detox. I managed the first couple of weeks and loved it, then a few things just got in the way of me focusing on it. Thank you so much for all the resources you put together, I printed off some of the recipes and they are lovely. Just wanted to say thank you for all that you shared.